Boxing is a combat sport in which two people, usually wearing protective gloves, throw punches at each

other for a predetermined amount of time in a boxing ring.Boxing, sport, both amateur and
professional, involving attack and defense with the fists. Boxers usually wear padded gloves and
generally observe the code set forth in the marquess of Queensberry rules. Matched in weight and
ability, boxing contestants try to land blows hard and often with their fists, each attempting to avoid the
blows of the opponent. A boxer wins a match either by outscoring the opponent—points can be tallied
in several ways—or by rendering the opponent incapable of continuing the match. Bouts range from 3
to 12 rounds, each round normally lasting three minutes.The terms pugilism and prizefighting in modern
usage are practically synonymous with boxing, although the first term indicates the ancient origins of
the sport in its derivation from the Latin pugil, “a boxer,” related to the Latin pugnus, “fist,” and derived
in turn from the Greek pyx, “with clenched fist.” The term prizefighting emphasizes pursuit of the sport
for monetary gain, which began in England in the 17th century.

A BRIEF HISTORY OF BOXING

In ancient Greece, boxing was a popular amateur competitive sport and was included in the first
Olympic Games. In ancient Rome boxers often wore the cestus, a metal-studded leather hand covering
with which they maimed and even killed their opponents, sometimes as part of gladiatorial spectacles.
The sport declined in popularity after the fall of the Roman Empire.

In the 18th Century boxing was revived in London in the form of bare-knuckle prizefights in which the
contestants fought for money and the spectators made wagers on the outcome.

The first boxer to be recognised as a Heavyweight Champion was James Figg in 1719. In 1743 a later
Champion, John Broughton, formulated a set of Rules standardising some practices and eliminating
others, such as hitting opponents when they are down or seizing opponents by the hair. Broughton’s
Rules governed boxing until 1838 when the Original London Prize Ring Rules, based on those of
Broughton, were devised.

Modifications known as the Revised London Prize Ring Rules were drawn up in 1853 and they controlled
the sport until the end of the 19th Century, when the Queensberry Rules came into use. These Rules
were drafted in 1857 by a boxer, John Graham Chambers, under the auspices of John Sholto Douglas,
8th Marquis of Queensberry.
Emphasising boxing skill rather than wrestling and agility over strength, the Queensberry Rules helped
to undo the popular image of boxing as a savage, brutal brawl. The new Rules prohibited bare-fisted
fighting, wrestling, hugging, hitting opponents while they are helpless and fighting to the finish. Under
the Broughton Rules a downed man was allowed 30 seconds to square off at a distance of 1yd (90cm)
from the opponent, aided by handlers if necessary. If the boxer failed to square off, the fighter was
considered beaten. Under the London Prize Ring Rules the boxer had to reach scratch (a mark located in
the middle of the ring) unaided within 8 seconds after the 30-second time lapse; and a round ended
when a boxer went down. Under the Queensberry Rules, matches were divided into 3 minute rounds
with 1 minute intervals of rest between them. A contestant who remained down, either recumbent or
on one knee, after 10 seconds lost the match. The Rules also stipulated that matches be conducted in a
roped-in square, called a ring, measuring 24ft (7.3m) on a side.The last bare-knuckle Heavyweight
Champion was the American John L. Sullivan, who fought and won the last sanctioned bare-knuckle fight
in 1889 against Jake Kilrain. Fighting with gloves under the Queensberry Rules, the popular Sullivan lost
the World Heavyweight Boxing Championship to James J. Corbett in New Orleans, Louisiana on 7th
September 1892. The Queensberry Rules have remained the code governing the conduct of professional
boxing.

The Queensberry Rules

To be a fair stand-up boxing match in a 24ft (7.3m) ring, or as near that size as practicable.

No wrestling or hugging allowed.

The rounds to be of 3 minutes duration and 1 minute between rounds.

If either man falls through weakness or otherwise, he must get up unaided, 10 seconds to be allowed
him to do so, the other man meanwhile to return to his corner, and when the fallen man is on his legs
the round is to be resumed and continued until the 3 minutes have expired. If one man fails to come to
the scratch in the 10 seconds allowed, it shall be in the power of the referee to give his award in favour
of the other man.

A man hanging on the ropes in a helpless state, with his toes off the ground, shall be considered down.

No seconds or any other person to be allowed in the ring during the rounds.
Should the contest be stopped by any unavoidable interference, the referee to name the time and place
as soon as possible for finishing the contest; so that the match must be won and lost, unless the backers
of both men agree to draw the stakes.

The gloves to be fair-sized boxing gloves of the best quality and new.

Should a glove burst, or come off, it must be replaced to the referee’s satisfaction.

A man on one knee is considered down and if struck is entitled to the stakes.

No shoes or boots with springs allowed.

The contest in all other respects to be governed by the Revised Rules of the London Prize Ring.

history

boxing, also known as pugilism or the sweet science, has roots that go all the way back to ancient
Greece and Rome. Back then fights would take place without gloves but with just leather taped on to
the hands. This resulted in even more gruesome, deadly battles.

The first documented "boxing match" took place in 1681 in Britian when the Duke of Albemarle
engineered a bout between his butler and his butcher.

In the coming years, bare-knuckle boxing contests would be held in ampitheatres all over England. Jack
Boughton, also known as "the Father of Boxing," developed the first set of rules for the sport and
published them in 1743 as a result from a bout where he killed his opponent in 1741.

The most revolutionary change in the sport came in 1865 when John Sholto Douglass, the Eighth
Marquess of Queensbury, drew up new rules of boxing which basically transformed the sport into what
it is today. He is regarded as the "Patron Saint" of boxing and some of the most significant changes were
three-minute roundsand the regulated use of approved boxing gloves. You can read the whole set of 12
rules here.

At this point the popularity of boxing continued to spread. It was included in the St. Louis Olympic
Games in 1904 for the first time ever. From here on, talented fighters from all over the world would
meet and fight for sanctioned titles all throughout the 20th Century and into the 21st.in 1927 the
National Boxing Association (NBA) became the first "sanctioning body" to govern over the sport. These
sanctioning bodies ranked fighters and arranged matches between champions and the most deserving
challengers, all for a healthy sanctioning fee of course. Today, three "recognized" sanctioning bodies
control the world of boxing. The WBC, IBF and WBA are the only bodies whos titlists are recognized
worldwide as "champions."

court dimension

boxing rings are available in these sizes: 16 feet square, 18′, 20′, 22′ and 24′. Training rings are available
at 12′ and 16′.

The licensing association decides what size is required for any given contest. In general, small hall
promotions use smaller rings.

A 16 foot ring is too small for any kind of contest except for small juniors. No form of boxing
(International boxing, Thai boxing or kickboxing), for adults, should take place in a 16 foot ring as it is too
small - it is just 3 steps across for heavyweights and that means safety is compromised.

The smallest practical and safe size for adults in any kind of boxing is an 18 foot ring.

Rings can be 3-rope or 4-rope. The four-rope ring is better and should be standard for all contests.

equipment and gears

The speed bag is one of the oldest boxing tools and it helps a boxer learn how to throw punches with
speed, accuracy and agility. To learn how to throw punches at angles that can hurt your opponent, use a
speed bag to hone your skills. Hitting the speed bag also helps your endurance and quickness.
heavy bag

Throwing power punches on the heavy bag is a different skill than learning how to throw quick punches
on the speed bag. Power punches are not the result of being able to lift heavy weights and having a
strong chest and arms. Power punches are thrown with your entire body. You want to use your lower
body, core muscles and upper body to throw power punches, and the heavy bag will help you.

Before you get in the ring you will need protective head gear, a mouth guard, hand wraps, a supporter
and cup, and boxing shoes and boxing gloves. The head gear is used by all fighters during training and
amateur fighters during bouts. All fighters use mouth guards, which protect the mouth and teeth from
hard punches and help prevent mouth lacerations and broken teeth. The protective supporter and cup
prevent injuries to the reproductive organs while the boxing shoes help fighters move smoothly in the
ring without turning or injuring their ankles.

rules of the game

The rules of boxing vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction, and on whether it is an amateur or professional
bout. A violation of the following rules is considered a foul, and can result in a warning, point deduction,
or disqualification by the referee:

You cannot hit below the belt, hold, trip, kick, headbutt, wrestle, bite, spit on, or push your opponent.

You cannot hit with your head, shoulder, forearm, or elbow.

You cannot hit with an open glove, the inside of the glove, the wrist, the backhand, or the side of the
hand.

You cannot punch your opponent's back, or the back of his head or neck (rabbit punch), or on the
kidneys (kidney punch).

You cannot throw a punch while holding on to the ropes to gain leverage.

You can't hold your opponent and hit him at the same time, or duck so low that your head is below your
opponent's belt line.

When the referee breaks you from a clinch, you have to take a full step back; you cannot immediately
hit your opponent--that's called "hitting on the break" and is illegal.

You cannot spit out your mouthpiece on purpose to get a rest.

If you score a knockdown of your opponent, you must go to the farthest neutral corner while the
referee makes the count.
If you "floor" your opponent, you cannot hit him when he's on the canvas.

A floored boxer has up to ten seconds to get back up on his feet before losing the bout by knockout.

A boxer who is knocked down cannot be saved by the bell in any round, depending upon the local
jurisdiction's rules.

A boxer who is hit with an accidental low blow has up to five minutes to recover. If s/he cannot continue
after five minutes, s/he is considered knocked out.

If the foul results in an injury that causes the fight to end immediately, the boxer who committed the
foul is disqualified.

If the foul causes an injury but the bout continues, the referee orders the judges to deduct two points
from the boxer who caused the injury.

If an unintentional foul causes the bout to be stopped immediately, the bout is ruled a "no contest" if
four rounds have not been fully completed. (If the bout was scheduled for four rounds, then three
rounds must have been completed.) If four rounds have been completed, the judges' scorecards are
tallied and the fighter who is ahead on points is awarded a technical decision. If the scores are even, it
will be called a "technical draw."

If a boxer is knocked out of the ring, he gets a count of 20 to get back in and on his feet. He cannot be
assisted.

In some jurisdictions the standing eight-count or the three knockdown rule also may be in effect.

In other jurisdictions, only the referee can stop the bout.

officials

Referees, Judges and Officials are an important component of amateur boxing. They play a significant
role in the conducting of competition bouts and tournaments. They are there to provide the boxer with
a fair and equittable experience by enforcing the rules and the spirit of fair play

Boxing heavily relies on a number of officials to conduct a bout. This can range from Referees and
Judges to Timekeepers and Gloving Stewards. At larger tournaments it can include Competition
Manager, Competition Jury and an Official Anouncer. All officials play a major role in the effectiveness
and efficiency of a bout/tournament.A boxing judge is responsible for judging the results of a boxing
match, with as many as three judges typically present at ringside to score the bout and assign points to
the boxers, based on punches that connect, defense, knockdowns, and other, more subjective,
measures.